Socket fastening



Sept. 5, 1933. H N 1,925,966

SOCKET FASTENING Filed July 6. 1929 u 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARVIDH.NERO

' J 72119 azi'arn 35 Wham P 1933! A. H. NERO 1,925,966

SOCKET FASTENING Filed July 6, 1929 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR ARVID H.NERO Mm Mum Patented Sept. 5, 1933 srATEs PATENT OFFICE.

sooner FASTENING Application July 6, 1929. Serial No. 376,4 1

Claims. (01.173-362) This invention has to do with the fasteningtogether of a molded cap and shell forming a husk or casing for a lampsocket or other electrical fitting. The fastening is so designed that 5it holds the cap and shell against relative movement endwise and rotaryand consists principally of parts molded integral with the cap and theshell.- An improved lock for keeping the cap and shell in fastenedrelation is also a part of the invention,

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings:

Figure 1 is view, in elevation for the most part but in vertical sectionthroughout one side and with the connecting ring wholly in section,showi1ing a cap and shell embodying this invention,

the two being separated.

Figure 2 is a plan View looking into a cap made according to thisinvention, the cap being shown as it appears when separated from theshell.

Figure 3 is a view looking into the same cap and showing it as it iswhen fastened on the shell, the view being from a plane below thefastening means at the margin of the shell or at the line 3--3 ofFigure 1. The shell appears in section.

Figure sis a top plan View of the same cap with a part'of the connectingring cut away to show the locking device.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the adjacent marginal partsof the cap and shell as they are when in position to be set together forfastening, the section being on a radial plane through a cap lug and aregistering between-lugs space of the shell.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the cap and shell positionedas in Figure 5, the section being through a between-lugs space on thecap and through a lug on the shell, the section plane being radial andspaced one lug width from that of Figure 5.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary sectional View of the adjacent marginal partsof the cap and shell shown in Figure 5 as they are when set together andafter the connecting ring has been turned, the section being on a radialplane (line '77 Figure 3) through the parts which serve to preventrelative rotation.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Fig. '7 but with the section taken on line8-8 of Fig. 3, the section being through the parts that prevent endwiseseparation.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a shell made according to thisinvention.

The cap 10 and the shell 11 are molded to the desired shape and, in themolding, the parts which form the fastening means are also produced,being integral with the body of the cap or of the shell. It is knownthat while the common use of such cap andshell combinations is with lampsockets, the same inventive ideas may be used with other electricalfittings for which a casing is needed, the shape of the casing being nopart of the invention. It is to be understood therefore that the wordscap and shell as used here include any two casing sections which are tobe fastened together against endwise separation and against relativerotation.

In the upper margin of the shell 11 there is a series of equally spacedrecesses 12 and between every two recesses there is a radial lug 13having its top surface flush with the margin of the shell and its undersurface flat in a plane parallel with the said margin. The upper, outeredge 14 of each lug isbeveled and the end faces 15 are sloped at anangle to the axis of the shell and merge into the side face 16. Theouter surface of the-shell rirn between the radial lugs is also sloped(as at 17, see Figure 9). When the shell is used on a socket having akey, chain or push through switch actuator, a suitable opening 18 (ortwo openings if for a push-through lever) is provided.

The cap 10 has a series of endwise extending projections or prongs 19offset outwardly from the periphery of the cap. These prongs extendabove the cap margin forming the radial offsets 19:12 the upper surfacesof which form a ledge in a plane parallel to that of the margin of thecap. The number of these prongs is equal to that of the radial lugs onthe shell but the circumferential extent or length of each prong is lessthan that-of the space between every two shell lugs. There is also aseries of lugs 21, the inner surfaces of which are continuous with theinner surface of the cap so that these lugs are, in fact, marginal lugs.These marginal lugs 21 are shaped to fit the marginal recesses of theshell and are equal in number to said recesses. To facilitate themolding of the cap, these marginal lugs 21 are formed. integral with thecap behind the prong 19 and it is to conform to this arrangement of thecap parts that the marginal recesses 12 of the shell are made betweenthe radial lugs 13 of the shell. It is not necessary however that thenumber of marginal lugs 21 and recesses 12 be equal to the number ofoffset prongs 19 and radial lugs 13 since their function is independent.The inner faces of the prongs 19 are beveled (as at 22) and the bevel iscontinued to the base of the lugs 21. To save material the end faces ofthe gin, the ring has a series of inturned flanges 27 equal in number tothe prongs 19 and adapted.

to lie under and in close engagement with the ends of these prongs, orwhen turned with respect to the cap, to lie in the spaces between theprongs. In the latter position, the ring may be separated from the cap.The assembly of the ring and the cap is accomplished by bringing theflanges into that positionand then turn-' ing the ring until the flangesunderlie the prongs,

When the ring and the cap are thus assembled, the cap and shell may befastened together. They are brought together with the marginal lugs 21resting in the recesses '12 of the shell margin and with the prongs 19lying between the radial shell lugs 13. By reason of the beveled edgesand thesloping surfaces of the shell lugs and the beveled faces 17between the shelllugs, the'uniting of the cap and shell is facilitatedsince the prongs 19 of the cap and the lugs 21 are guided into position.The cap prongs 19 being of such length that their end surfaces lie inthe plane of the under surfaces of the shell lugs 13, the ring may beturned until the flanges 27 underlie the shell lugs instead of the capprongs. In this relation, the cap and shell are inseparable and'areincapable of relative rotation. The former is effected by reason of thefact that the upper and lower flanges on the ring engage the oppositelyfaced prongs and lugs of the cap and shell while the latter functionisrelegated solely to the interlocking of the marginal lugs 21 andrecesses 12.

It isdesirable to lock the parts in the relation just described. One ofthe radial offsets 19a: of the cap (see Figure 1) is partly cut awayfrom its upper surface and from one end surface (as at 24) and arecess'28 is formed in it extending down into the prong 19 integral withthis lug. A piece of thin spring metal 29, in the shape of the letter F,having a long offset leg 30 and a shorter offset leg 31 spaced slightlytherefrom, is placed under the ring with its long leg extending belowthe ring and its short leg resting in the recess 28 in the radialoffsets. The main part of this spring piece lies on the top of thecut-away lug and extends beyond it along the ring with its end inengagement with the ring. The curvature of the ring causesthis tail end32 to be pressed in with the result that the down leg 30 pressesoutwardly against the ring, as it tends to straighten.

When the ring and the cap are assembled (Figure 2) and are ready to bejoined to the shell, the down leg 30 of the spring lock is held inwardby the inner edge of the flange 2'7 which then underlies thecut-awayradial offsets. When, however, the cap and shell are assembledand the ring is turned counterclockwise (as viewed in Figures 2 and 3)the flange 2'7 rides off the down leg and lets it snap outwardly into aposition obstructing reverse movement of the ring.- Further movement ofthe ring in the same direction is prevented by the engagement of thesmall part '35, struck in from the annular flange of the ring, with thecorner of a cap prong 19. This struck-in part is on theupper flange 26of the ring above and slightly to the side of one end of one ofthe lowerflanges 27. Hence before the cap is put on the shell (Figure 2) thestruck-in part will lie against the corner of a cap prong, (for instance19 and when the ring is turned to put the flanges 2'7 beneath the shelllugs the part 35 moves across the space between prongs 19 until itengages the next prong (e. g. 19 It thus limits the extent of turning ofthe ring and limits the turning to one direction.

' Although the words lugs prongs and projections have been used todescribe generally the irregularities in the contour of the cap andshel1,'these different terms have been used in a general way to avoidconfusion, and not with intent to limit the invention through impartingshades of meaning as might be implied from the use of difierent terms.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap and shellsections having cooperating marginal lugs and recesses for holding themfrom relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on one section, a seriesof prongs on the other section forming an annular ledge and adapted tolie between said radial lugs but out of contact therewith, and a ringhaving a flange at one rim resting on said radial ledge and a series offlanges at'its other rim adapted to alternately engage the ends of saidprongs or said radial lugs, for the purpose described.

2. A casing for an electrical fitting comprising molded cap and shellsections, a series of recesses in the margin of one section and acorresponding series of lugs on the margin of the other portion adaptedto rest in and engage the side walls of said recesses, in combinationwith a series of radial lugs on one of said sections, a like series ofoff-set prongs on the other seetion'adapted to lie between but clear ofsaid radial lugs, and a ring member, rotatably mounted on the othersection, having a series of flanges adapted to be turned to engage, theends of said prongs or to engage said radial lugs to hold said sectionsfrom endwise separation.

3. A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap and shellsections having co-operating marginal lugs and recesses for holding themfrom relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on one section, a seriesof prongs on the other section forming an annular ledge and adapted tolie between said radial lugs but out of contact therewith, said radiallugs having sloping surfaces to facilitate the uniting of said sectionsby guiding said prongs, and a ring adapted to engage said radial lugsand prongs to hold said cap and shell from separation.

4.'A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap and shellsections having co-operating marginal lugs and recesses for holding themfrom relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on one section, a seriesof prongs on the other section forming an annular ledge and adapted tolie between said radial lugs but out of contact therewith, said radiallugs having beveled edges to facilitate the uniting of said sections byguiding said prongs,and a ring adapted to engage said radial lugs andprongs to hold said cap and shell from separation.

5. A casing for an electric fitting comprising molded cap' and shellsections having co -operating marginal lugs and recesses for holdingthem from relative rotation, a series of radial lugs on fat said recess,said piece having a portion extending below said ring and a portionextending along said ring and into engagement therewith whereby saidportion extending below the ring is resiliently urged outwardly for thepurpose described.

ARVID H. NERO.

(,IERTIFEGATE or ooRREcTioN.

Patent No. 1325,9136. September 5, i933.

ARVID H. NERO.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed speciiioanos ofthe above numbered patent requiring eorrection as follows: Page 1, line160, for "prong" read "prongs"; page 2, line 195, claim 1, strike outthe worrl "rarlial"; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections the-rein that the same may conform to the recordof the ease in the Patent (liiiee.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of October, A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

